Planned Parenthood of San Antonio and South Central Texas Records, 1931-1999

Historical Note

Planned Parenthood of San Antonio and South Central Texas (PPSASCT) was founded in 1939 under the leadership of its first president, Mollie Bennett Lupe. Originally called the Maternal Health Center of San Antonio, the organization formally changed its name to Planned Parenthood Center of San Antonio in 1947, then Planned Parenthood of San Antonio in 1986. In 1989 Planned Parenthood of San Antonio merged with Planned Parenthood of Chaparral Country (including the cities of Kingsville, Alice and Falfurrias in Texas), and changed their name to its current title. The purpose of the organization is to support the goals of Planned Parenthood Federation of America by offering to the community affordable and accessible reproductive health care, family planning services, and other types of health services according to particular need and resources available, and education on human sexuality issues.

The first clinic was located at the corner of Water and Goliad streets. Three hundred fifty-four women received birth control services from the clinic during its first year of operation. By 1941 the staff had outgrown this facility, and the clinic was moved to 1130 West Houston Street. The West Houston location served the staff's needs until 1956 when they moved to their first modern facility at 312 North Presa. The Center received its first federal grant in 1967, and expanded to include one central clinic and twelve smaller branches located in low-income areas. In 1984 the organization opened its current administrative offices, along with its first self-sustaining clinic (supported only through patient fees and private donations) in the Babcock Building.

The need for Planned Parenthood's services and outreach continued to grow as the rate of teenage births increased in the San Antonio area. Local media attention and increasing numbers of volunteer workers enhanced promotion of the organization. With the help of volunteers, the Peer Counselor program was initiated in the early 1980's, and proved very successful as an educational outreach tool in the elementary and high schools. In 1987, October was proclaimed National Family Sexuality Education Month in San Antonio.

During the month, various programs and seminars promoting positive sexual attitudes are presented by Planned Parenthood and other related organizations. The following year The Texas Teens Project, a multimedia, statewide program designed to educate teens aged 11 through 14 on sex issues, was launched with the help of Planned Parenthood.

The decades following Planned Parenthood's formation were marked by success and continued challenge for the organization. In 1968 Planned Parenthood of San Antonio and South Central Texas and the Southwest Foundation for Research and Education began a joint oral contraceptive study using local women subjects. The results of this study, released a few years later, stirred much controversy, particularly from the local Hispanic population. During the 1980's monies from federal and state grants were reduced through cutbacks. As a result, lack of funding, as well as the fight for what funding remained, became a major problem for the organization. With the onslaught of the AIDS and HIV epidemic, it became necessary for Planned Parenthood to expand existing education and medical services. During the mid 1980's unprecedented national violence by anti-abortion activists occurred in the form of clinic bombings and threats toward staff. Though San Antonio was spared any major acts of violence, there was increased activist protest and resulting fear by Planned Parenthood staff and affiliates.

Source: pamphlet, Planned Parenthood of San Antonio Fiftieth Anniversary Luncheon, May 2, 1989.

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Scope and Content Note

The records of Planned Parenthood of San Antonio and South Central Texas, 1931-1999, document the organization's operation from its formation. The records include correspondence, minutes, reports, photographs, scrapbooks and printed materials. Highlights of the collection include administrative activities, programs and services offered to local and regional communities, how public opinion of the organization changed and regional and national developments of sexual and family issues. The records are separated into four series: Administrative Records, Printed Materials, Photographic and Audiovisual Materials, and Scrapbooks.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Some materials in this collection are restricted. Please contact the UTSA Archives for more information.

Original audiovisual materials are closed to patron use. Some use copies are available in the collection.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Planned Parenthood of San Antonio and South Central Texas Records, 1931-1999, MS 83, UTSA Archives and Special Collections, Library, University of Texas at San Antonio.

Acquisition Information

All the materials in this collection were donated by Planned Parenthood of San Antonio and South Central Texas in 1999 (Acc. 1999-08, 1999-34).

Processing Information

Processed by Dale Sauter, Processing Archivist, April 2001.

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Detailed Description of the Records

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